Drs Wang, Sun, Jiang, and Cui are from the Department of Spinal Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University,
Jinan City, Shandong Province, China.
Drs Wang, Sun, Jiang, and Cui have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Correspondence should be addressed to: Jianmin Sun, MD, Department of Spinal Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong
University, No. 324 Jingwuweiqi Rd, Jinan City, Shandong Province, China (spine2000@msn.cn).
First described by Andersson
1
in 1937, Andersson lesions are localized vertebral or diskovertebral lesions of the spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
According to previous reports, the prevalence of Andersson lesions in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ranges from 1.5%
to 28%.
2–6
However, debate exists as to the origin and development of Andersson lesions associated with ankylosing spondylitis, as well
as the best treatment program.
We reviewed the clinical records of 8 patients with Andersson lesions associated with ankylosing spondylitis who underwent
surgical treatment in our department to study the necessity of lesion curettage and anterior bone graft and fusion in their
surgical treatment.
Materials and Methods
Eight men with Andersson lesions associated with ankylosing spondylitis who underwent surgical treatment in our department
from 2004 to 2010 were included in this study. Basic patient information such as body height, body weight, and follow-up time
was recorded. A detailed history was recorded and a physical examination was performed for each patient preoperatively. Human
leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) analysis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein level were also obtained
preoperatively.
Standing anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs were obtained preoperatively, 10 days postoperatively, and at follow-up.
On radiographs, several parameters were studied: level of the Andersson lesion, local kyphosis, and global kyphosis. Local
kyphosis in the lesion region was estimated as the angle between the lines drawn from the upper endplate of the cranial vertebral
body and the inferior endplate of the caudal vertebral body.
7,8
Global kyphosis was estimated as the Cobb angle of the thoracolumbar or the whole spine (Figure ).
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) were performed preoperatively for all patients to detect spinal
cord compression and identify the conditions of the anterior elements (including intervertebral disk and vertebral body) and
the posterior elements (including vertebral plate, ligamentum flava, interspinal, and supraspinal ligament).
Two surgical techniques were used in this study: (1) posterior instrumentation with lesion curettage and anterior bone graft;
and (2) posterior instrumentation without lesion curettage and anterior bone graft. Because there are no established instructions
for the surgical treatment of Andersson lesions, although we performed all surgeries from a posterior approach, we alternated
techniques for each patient. In addition, posterolateral autograft was supplemented to posterior instrumentation with or without
anterior bone graft. Biopsy was performed in several patients, and other detailed surgical information, such as operation
time and blood loss, was recorded.
Results
Eight Andersson lesions, all pseudoarthrosis, were observed in the 8 patients. All 8 Andersson lesions occurred in the intervertebral
space, mainly at the thoracolumbar region.
All 8 patients were men, with a mean age of 45.6 years (range, 28–57 years). Mean height was 171.0 cm (range, 169.0–175.5
cm), and mean weight was 75.1 kg (range, 67–85 kg). The period between the onset of persistent back pain and surgery ranged
from 3 to 8 years. Mean follow-up was 3.75 years (range, 2–6 years) (Table ).
All 8 patients reported persistent back pain for years that had progressed in the months before the operation. Six of the
8 patients reported a history of trauma at the onset of the persistent back pain, but no patient reported trauma at the time
of progression of the back pain. The period between the onset and progression of the back pain ranged from 3 to 8 years. Except
in 1 patient with decreased limb strength, no neural deficit was detected in any patient.
For the 8 patients, local kyphosis was 10.9° preoperatively (range, 7.0°–16.5°) and 6.75° postoperatively (range, 1.0°–12.0°).
Global kyphosis was observed in 4 patients preoperatively, with a mean value of 48.3° (Table ).
For all 8 Andersson lesions, destruction of anterior elements and fracture of posterior elements were observed on MRI. In
1 patient, canal encroachment was observed on both MRI and CT.
Mean operation time was 4.1 hours (range, 3–6 hours). Mean blood loss was 1150 mL (range, 810–1500 mL).
Three patients underwent surgery with posterior instrumentation without lesion curettage and anterior bone graft, while 5
patients underwent surgery with both posterior instrumentation and lesion anterior curettage and bone graft. Posterolateral
autograft was performed to supplement the posterior instrumentation with or without anterior lesion curettage and bone graft.
No neurological or infectious complication occurred. At final follow-up, no evidence of nonunion at the level of pseudoarthrosis
was observed.
Biopsy was performed in 4 patients undergoing anterior lesion curettage and bone graft and in 1 patient undergoing surgery
without lesion curettage. Histological study showed the lesions were infiltrated by plasma cells and lymphocytes. No infectious
inflammation was observed.
Discussion
Andersson lesions are a common complication associated with ankylosing spondylitis, presenting as the development of localized
vertebral or diskovertebral lesions of the spine.
1,6
Two possible etiologies, inflammatory and mechanic, are described in the literature.
2–7,9–15
Dihlmann and Delling
2
divided Andersson lesions into 2 main types: inflammatory and noninflammatory; however, this does not apply to all cases
of Andersson lesions. Therefore, although still a topic of debate, a common opinion is that both inflammatory and mechanic
factors play a role in the origin and development of Andersson lesions.
6,9,12,13,15–17
In this study, we found a history of trauma at the time of onset of persistent back pain in 6 of our 8 patients. We believe
that trauma is the possible origin of Andersson lesions in our study; however, we did not obtain radiological records from
the onset of back pain, and we found no history of trauma at the time of progression of back pain.
Bron et al
6
divided Andersson lesions into 3 groups according to radiological characteristics: localized lesions, extensive lesions with
fractured posterior elements, and extensive lesions without fractured posterior elements. In our study, all the Andersson
lesions were extensive lesions. Among the 8 Andersson lesions, rupture of posterior ligaments was observed in 7 as interspinous
edema on MRI, and fracture of the spinous process was observed in 1.
Two theories about the reasons for destruction of the vertebral body and intervertebral disk are more convincing than others.
The first is that the nuclear material that herniates through the endplate into the vertebral body causes inflammatory destruction
because of its antigenicity.
6
The other, more common theory is that local nonunion of the ankylosed spine results from increased spinal inflammation and
an excessive degree of mobility caused by inflammatory destruction.
5,9,12
Bron et al
6
theorizes a “common pathway” to interpret the development of pseudoarthrosis that emphasizes the cooperation of inflammatory
and mechanic (instability) factors.
There are also 2 possible causes for the rupture of posterior elements: primary trauma or stress fracture secondary to anterior
destruction. According to Bron et al,
6
the type with fractured posterior elements was mainly caused by primary trauma. Several early reports on Andersson lesions
without fractured posterior elements proved the more important role of instability.
10,13,14
According to the radiological parameters obtained in this study, no obvious local kyphosis occurred in the lesion region,
even in the lesion with obvious anterior destruction, so there was no tension on the posterior elements to cause secondary
fracture. Therefore, we have reason to believe that the destruction of anterior elements and the fracture of posterior elements
occurred at the same time as the original trauma. The inflammatory reaction was trigged to cause vertebral and intervertebral
destruction, while instability caused by the fracture of posterior elements hindered reunion.
Regarding the management of Andersson lesions, several researchers report that conservative treatment could be effective.
2,4,13
One report describes the spontaneous relief of back pain in patients with Andersson lesions.
2
However, Bron et al
6
pointed out that conservative management is less efficient at the more mobile cervical and thoracolumbar levels. Conservative
management is also not suitable for pseudoarthrosis, because without solid fixation gained from surgery, minimal persistent
motion at the Andersson lesion might hinder fracture healing and union. Neither brace immobilization nor Halo jacket immobilization
could eradicate this minimal persistent motion.
12,15
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antitumor necrosis factor-a are commonly used in the conservative management of Andersson
lesions; however, Bron et al
6
proposed that there is no evidence that treatment with these drugs is beneficial in the treatment of symptomatic Andersson
lesions, although they are effective in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis.
Regarding the debate on surgical treatment, the main argument is focused on the necessity of anterior bone graft and fusion.
Chang et al
7,8
reported that anterior fusion was not necessary because of the excellent reunion ability of ankylosing spondylitis; however,
Chen et al
18
reported the effectiveness of surgical treatment with both posterior fixation and anterior fusion. Because there are no established
instructions for the surgical treatment of Andersson lesions, although we performed all surgeries from a posterior approach,
we alternated techniques for each patient. At first, we believed it was necessary to perform lesion curettage and bone graft.
However, in 2007, we treated a patient who could not tolerant lesion curettage and anterior bone graft, so we only used posterior
instrumentation. At 1-year follow-up, union of the pseudoarthrosis was achieved (Figure ). In 2008, we performed surgeries with posterior instrumentation on 2 other patients. In 2009, for a patient with obvious
vertebral body destruction and neural deficit, we performed posterior decompression and anterior bone graft but not excessive
lesion curettage (Figure ). The outcomes of the 8 patients treated in our department were good. No evidence of nonunion was observed in any patient
at last follow-up.
Based on these results, we believe that solid immobilization achieved by posterior instrumentation is the most significant
treatment for Andersson lesions, which also proves the significant role of instability in the development of Andersson lesions.
In addition, in the Smith-Peterson osteotomy, the intervertebral disk was always ruptured with nuclear material exposed,
19
which is similar to 1 hypothesis of Andersson lesions.
5,6,9
However, there are no reports of Andersson lesions occurring at the segment of Smith-Peterson osteotomy.
Conclusion
For patients with Andersson lesions without obvious vertebral body destruction requiring reconstruction, surgical treatment
with posterior instrumentation supplemented by posterolateral autograft was effective. Lesion curettage and anterior bone
graft was notnecessary. Solidimmobilization achieved by posterior instrumentation should be the focus of the treatment of
Andersson lesions associated with ankylosing spondylitis.
References
- 1. Andersson O. Röntgenbilden vid spondylarthritis ankylopoetica.
Nord Med Tidskr. 1937; (14):2000–2002.
- 2. Dihlmann W, Delling G. Disco-vertebral destructive lesions (so-called Andersson lesions) associated with ankylosing spondylitis.
Skeletal Radiol. 1978; (3):10–16. doi: 10.1007/BF00365106
[CrossRef]
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18, 2009].
Clin Rheumatol. 2009; 28(8):883–892. doi: 10.1007/s10067-009-1151-x
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Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005; 30(14):1674–1681. doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000170450.77554.bc
[CrossRef]
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Clin Rheumatol. 1985; 4(4):458–464. doi: 10.1007/BF02031901
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- 10. Jajic I, Furst Z, Vuksic B. Spondylitis erosiva: report on 9 patients.
Ann Rheum Dis. 1982; 41(3):237–241. doi: 10.1136/ard.41.3.237
[CrossRef]
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Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1988; (230):154–161.
- 12. Fang D, Leong JC, Ho EK, Chan FL, Chow SP. Spinal pseudarthrosis in ankylosing spondylitis. Clinicopathological correlation and the results of anterior spinal fusion.
J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1988; 70(3):443–447.
- 13. Nikolaisen C, Nossent H. Early histology in ankylosing spondylitis related spondylodiscitis supports its inflammatory origin.
Scand J Rheumatol. 2005; 34(5):396–398. doi: 10.1080/03009740510026625
[CrossRef]
- 14. Unsal E, Arici AM, Kavukçu S, Pirnar T. Andersson lesion: spondylitis erosiva in adolescents. Two cases and review of the literature.
Pediatr Radiol. 2002; 32(3):183–187. doi: 10.1007/s00247-001-0629-8
[CrossRef]
- 15. Cawley MI, Chalmers TM, Kellgren JH, Ball J. Destructive lesions of vertebral bodies in ankylosing spondylitis.
Ann Rheum Dis. 1972; 31(5):345–358. doi: 10.1136/ard.31.5.345
[CrossRef]
- 16. de Vries MK, van Drumpt AS, van Royen BJ, van Denderen JC, Manoliu RA, van der Horst-Bruinsma IE. Discovertebral (Andersson) lesions in severe ankylosing spondylitis: a study using MRI and conventional radiography [published
online ahead of print May 23, 2010].
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[CrossRef]
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Mod Rheumatol. 2002; 12(2):113–117. doi: 10.1007/s101650200020
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Chang Gung Med J. 2005; 28(9):621–628.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1969; (66):6–9.
Patient Data
Patient No./Sex/Age, y
|
Weight, kg
|
Height, cm
|
Follow-up, y
|
HLA-B27, +/-
|
ESR, mm/h
a
|
CRP, mg/L
b
|
1/M/57 |
72 |
171.0 |
6 |
+ |
18 |
13.7 |
2/M/44 |
78 |
169.5 |
5 |
+ |
24 |
21.2 |
3/M/45 |
85 |
175.5 |
5 |
+ |
16 |
9.3 |
4/M/28 |
74 |
173.5 |
4 |
+ |
22 |
15.6 |
5/M/55 |
67 |
169.0 |
3 |
+ |
31 |
23.9 |
6/M/46 |
72 |
172.0 |
3 |
+ |
17 |
12.1 |
7/M/51 |
78 |
166.5 |
2 |
+ |
20 |
16.2 |
8/M/39 |
75 |
171.0 |
2 |
+ |
34 |
21.3 |
Mean |
75.1 |
171.0 |
3.75 |
|
22.8 |
16.7 |
Radiological Data
Patient No.
|
Level of Andersson Lesion
|
Local Kyphosis, deg
a
|
Global Kyphosis Preoperatively
b
|
Preoperatively
|
Postoperatively
|
Final Follow-up
|
1 |
T8/9 |
15 |
12 |
13 |
- |
2 |
T9/10 |
11 |
9 |
9 |
- |
3 |
T9/10 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
44 |
4 |
T12/L1 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
42 |
5 |
T10/11 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
42 |
6 |
T12/L1 |
8 |
2 |
4 |
- |
7 |
T10/11 |
9 |
9 |
7 |
- |
8 |
L1/2 |
16.5 |
1 |
3 |
65 |
Mean |
|
10.9 |
6.75 |
6.25 |
48.25 |